A Bronze Mizusashi, Chinese 16th or 17th Century or perhaps Japanese 1600-1700 from the Sammlung Vollmer Collection (dated to the Ming dynasty 15th or 16th century). A Mizusashi is jar which is used for storing fresh water for use during the Japanese tea ceremony. Some have custom made lids of lacquered wood, however the present example has a Tomobuta, a matching lid. Made in China for the Japanese market this heavy bronze in the archaic style has texture that would appeal to Japanese taste.  The fresh cold water would be used by the host in tea room during the ceremony, a long bamboo stemmed Hishaku ladle would be used to decant the water. Chinese bronzes made for the Japanese market are rare, I have little to go by as far as the dating is concerned, it is dated 15th or 16th century in ‘Momoyama Keramik und ihr Einfluss die Gegenwart (Various authors. Stiftung Keramion, Frechen 2011. ISBN 978-3-94005-06-8) where it is published. I think it was probably made a little later, it would also make sense that it was made at the same period China was exporting porcelain to Japan. Opinion seem to be divided as too wether this is Chinese for the Japanese market or Japanese.

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